Have a fun summer vacation—without spending lots of cash

You have your heart set on a relaxingfamily vacation今年夏天，您没有很多现金。无论您是待在家里，在美国旅行还是在国外旅行，我们都可以覆盖这11个省钱的技巧，这些技巧不会在您的夏季乐趣中陷入困境。

1。Be creative, close to home

坚持自己的区域是节省旅行成本的一种好方法，但这并不意味着您必须放弃像度假一样的乐趣。有了新鲜的眼睛，您会在自己的后院找到很多可做的事情。游泳池，游乐场，公园和自然中心是孩子们度过暑假的价格合理且有趣的方式。

And you can take this strategy on the road with you. “We've found some amazing playgrounds in the U.S. and around the world that occupied our kids for a good while,” says Nicolette Kay, founder of Semi-Budget Travel. “The kids love it, and it's free!”

Museums and libraries are indoor options for the whole family to enjoy on a rainy day and to get a break from the heat.

2. Take day trips

通过一日游，降低“假期”成本的另一种方法。承认：您从来没有尽可能地在家玩游客。更重要的是，减少费用以避免过夜。

“Coming home each night can take the pressure off your adventures and showcase places that you’ve always meant to visit and just haven’t quite got round to yet,” says Laura Motta, senior director of content at Lonely Planet.

3. Plan bigger trips ahead of time

Keep costs down by getting your vacation plans in order well in advance. “Finding lodging and transportation on the fly can be expensive, so be sure to make reservations ahead of time,” Kay says. “Then, you will know exactly how much you will be spending on those items. In doing this, watch out for hidden or additional fees.”

购买机票的最佳时间是旅行日期前的76天，cheapest day of the weekto fly is Wednesday, according toCheapAir.com。You’ll save $57 per airline ticket versus the most expensive day to travel, which is Sunday.

“When booking travel, consider taking one-stop flights to unlock better fares, or using smaller secondary airports to bring down the cost,” Motta says. Secondary airports—as in the smaller “regional” ones near bigger international hubs—could have cheaper flights due to lower demand.

But if you spot a good price, go for it. “Book soon to lock in a good fare if you see one,” Motta says. “If you’re in a position to vacation outside school break times, then you’ll see prices drop substantially.”

4.节省食物的钱

出门在旅行的每顿饭中吃饭听起来很ncade废，但是当您的信用卡到期时，可能会导致贴纸冲击。降低食品费用可以帮助减少度假费用。

“To save some money on food, plan for more snacks and less sit-down meals,” Kay says. “This can also avoid frustrations at restaurants if table service is slow and everyone is hangry! If your lodging has a kitchen, you can save even more by grocery shopping and cooking meals.”

5. Use coupons when booking

有最喜欢的度假景点吗？寻找交易。188bet亚洲体育平台Motta说：“寻找主题公园和其他景点的优惠券和优惠券以及账面上的交易，这些景点可以保持较低的成本。”188bet亚洲体育平台

Going to a city? Check outCityPass，，，，where you’ll get discounts on attractions in cities such as Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Denver, Houston, New York, Orlando, Philadelphia, San Diego, Seattle, Tampa, and Toronto.

6. Cash in on credit card travel rewards

Have you been charging away at a travel rewards card throughout the year? Now’s the time to cash it in. You could earn discounts on hotel stays, flights, and more. Paying with points will lower your vacation expenses.

When shopping for a travel rewards credit card, look for a card with flexibility. “Use a credit card that earns flexible award points,” Kay says. “Then, you'll have a head start on your next trip. Think upgrades, nearly free flights, and hotel stays!”

For example, with the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card—the最好的旅行卡we’ve reviewed—you could redeem points for everything from flights and car rentals to hotel stays and cruises. If you’re not already a card member, after approval, you’ll earn 2 points per dollar spent on travel and 3 points on dining, so this is a good card to take with you on your summer trip to earn rewards to spend on your next vacation.

7. Pick the right credit card for overseas travel

Some credit cards charge you a fee every time you make a transaction in a foreign country. Leave those cards at home and pack a credit card that doesn’t charge this fee, Kay says.

范围从1%到外汇转换费用3%. Being hit with the higher 3% fee for each purchase you make in a foreign country can really add up. For example, a short stay in a European hotel that should cost you $300 would cost you $309. And you’re paying extra every time you charge your bill for restaurants, rental cars, or train tickets, you’re basically throwing money away by using the wrong card.

Nearly all of the travel cards featured in our最佳旅行信用卡评论don’t charge foreign transaction fees, including Chase Sapphire Preferred, our best overall pick.

8. Commune with nature

Spending your vacation time in the great outdoors can cut your costs way down, mainly because you can bring your own lodging and cook your own meals. “Taking to your tent isn’t just fantastic value—it’s a way of unlocking a back-to-nature vacation that can feel further from home than you actually are,” Motta says. “Plus, kids love it.”

请记住，更受欢迎的景点可能更昂贵，更难预订。“去州立公园而不是国家公园，”弗里默指南的联合总统波琳·弗洛默（Pauline Frommer）说。Frommers.com。“您想去人们不去的地方，不仅是为了理智，而且为了省钱。”

9. Save on gas

Want to save money on gas? Take good care of your car. “Getting a tune-up for a car [and] making sure it runs well will help you save on gas,” Frommer says. This is because a well maintained car will run more efficiently.

And there’s more you can do, according to AAA. Underinflated tires lowers fuel economy so keep tires properly inflated. Check the sticker on the inside of the driver’s door for the recommended tire pressure for your car. Don’t be in a hurry when you start your car. Quick starts and hard acceleration increases fuel usage, so avoid these aggressive actions. You also don’t want to idle the car for an extended period of time because this will waste fuel.

Finally, you can save while on the road by using one of thebest credit cards to save on gas。我们的公路旅行首选，花旗总理卡，每美元在加油站花费3点，以及餐饮，杂货，航班和酒店住宿的3分。

10. Save with a bundle

Pay for rental car, hotel, and airfare expenses all together. Sites likeBooking.com，，，，Expedia，，，，Kayak，，，，Orbitz，，，，andTravelocity提供将旅行服务合并为一揽子计划的折扣。

更重要的是，“如果通过航空公司预订，[捆绑]可能是使用任何适用的相关里程和点的好方法，” Motta说。

11。Choose less popular destinations

您可能总是梦想着在巴黎夏季或在威尼斯的运河上巡游，但是较大的“名字”旅行地点通常更昂贵，尤其是经过两年不存在的旅游业之后。莫塔说：“相反，瞄准了塞维利亚，波尔图和克罗地亚分裂等著名但仍然很棒的城市。”

Lonely Planetis among the travel sites offering these kinds of recommendations. Tour companies eager for travelers are doing the same. Go for a more unusual vacation spot and it will save you and your family money.

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在本文发表时，价格准确，但可能会随着时间而变化。